Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Thursday 2 December 1999

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects have been approved under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme during the current financial year and what action it is taking to process outstanding claims.

Ross Finnie: During the current financial year, 850 applications for grant assistance under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS) have been approved. The outstanding applications are being assessed in accordance with my announcement on 16 November that, subject to the Scheme’s rules, applications would be approved for: resource audits; information technology; alternative agricultural production; mobile sheep fanks and dippers; and self-standing systems for the storage and disposal of farm waste. The remaining financial provision for ABIS will be fully committed by 31 December 1999.

Crime

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce CCTV to the South Kessock area following the recent spate of attacks by young people using fireworks.

Angus MacKay: The Scottish Executive funds CCTV through its Make Our Communities Safer Challenge Competition. Applications are submitted to the Scottish Executive through Chief Executives of local councils and Chief Constables. I understand that no application is being considered for South Kessock for the 2000-01 round of the Competition which starts next April.

Domestic Violence

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-587 by Jackie Baillie on 11 November 1999, whether it will give a commitment to organisations such as Scottish Women’s Aid that priority in bids for funds from the domestic abuse service development fund will not be given to innovative schemes over schemes which are already proving effective.

Jackie Baillie: Grants will be made for those projects which best fulfil the aim of developing multi-agency working to improve local service provision.

Domestic Violence

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement to the Parliament by Jackie Baillie on 27 October 1999 on the establishment of the domestic abuse service development fund, (a) whether or not it will make funding available to local authorities in order that they might provide matched funding for any bid submitted to this new fund and (b) whether the fund will only support new developments and, if so, whether it will confirm that funding will still be made available to organisations such as Scottish Women’s Aid.

Jackie Baillie: Local authorities current financial settlement is the most generous for seven years with provision set to rise by £840 million over the next three years. They will be expected to provide the match funding from this provision, although it will be open to their local partners to contribute where appropriate.

  The Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund will support additional work in this sector. Existing funding arrangements are a matter for individual local authorities. Scottish Executive direct funding to Scottish Women's Aid will continue over and above the Development Fund.

Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what Scotland’s share of the £1.3 billion spend on the New Deal for schools will be and how, when and where this money will be spent.

Peter Peacock: £115.7 million pounds over five years. £8.9 million was available in financial year 1997-98, with £26.7 million in each of the four subsequent years. All education authorities in Scotland have access to a formula share of these funds for the repair of school buildings and to improve information and communications technology facilities.

Education

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children living within the Glasgow City Council boundary have been placed by their parents in schools outwith that boundary in each of the years in the period 1988-89 to 1998-99 taking account of local government reorganisation.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Europe

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any modifications to the UK proposals for Objective 2 coverage in Scotland.

Mr Jack McConnell: In line with my undertaking during the debate on 28 October I have now agreed minor amendments to the proposals in order to more accurately meet the criteria of the EU Regulation. A list of these changes is given below. Otherwise the proposals remain as announced on 8 October.

  Where full Objective 2 coverage is not foreseen I continue to stress the importance of targeting transitional funding solely on smaller areas of need or projects with a major economic impact.

  OBJECTIVE 2 PROPOSALS

  


Area 
  

Wards Included 
  

Wards Deleted 
  



Angus 
  

Sidlaw
Carnoustie West 
  

Colliston and Hayshead 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  
 

Harviestoun 
  



Dundee 
  

Dudhope
Central
Menziehill
Gourdie 
  

Wellgate
Baxter Park
Douglas
Whitfield
Trottick 
  



Falkirk 
  

Dawson
Victoria 
  

Denny 
  



Glasgow 
  

Castlemilk
Dennistoun 
  

Toryglen
Crosshill 
  



Midlothian 
  

Part of Pathhead 
  ward east of A68 
  
 



Moray 
  

Keith
Northern part of 
  Strathisla north of A96 (west of Keith and A95 (east of Keith) 
  

Rathford 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

Johnstone Cochranemill 
  

Barshaw 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

Ferniegar
Part of Fernhill 
  ward south of Cathkin Bypass 
  

Low Waters

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an analysis comparing the cost of servicing the £1 billion worth of Private Finance Initiative projects in Scotland showing the actual costs under PFI over the period of the project with what would have been the cost of servicing the equivalent capital sums as borrowed funds through the Public Work Loans Board.

Mr Jack McConnell: The information required to provide this comparison is not held centrally. However, I refer you to a letter that I sent to Fergus Ewing MSP on 30 June 1999, a copy of which I have placed in the Information Centre of the Scottish Parliament. It sets out clearly why I believe a straightforward comparison of public and private sector borrowing rates is inappropriate.

Health

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many paediatric neurologists are currently in post and how many paediatric neurologist vacancies there are at each relevant hospital in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is not available centrally. Paediatric Neurology is not identified as a separate specialty in Scotland.

Health

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many epilepsy specialist nurses are employed in Scotland and where they are located.

Susan Deacon: The employment of specialist nurses is a matter for the providers of health care and details of such posts are not held centrally.

  The Scottish Executive understands, however, that there are nurses in all of the major neurological and paediatric units in Scotland and in some General Practices who have a specific remit in caring for people with epilepsy.

Health

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of GP practices (a) in Scotland and (b) in each health board area currently offer specialist Asthma Clinics.

Susan Deacon: Information on the percentage of GP practices offering specialist Asthma clinics is not held centrally. However, many practices are involved in Chronic Disease Management Programmes for Asthma where the practice can receive a payment for providing an organised programme for the care of patients with Asthma. Programmes have to provide specific services, such as education of newly diagnosed patients, regular review of the patient etc, and have to be approved by the Primary Care Trust. The percentage of practices which receive payments for such programmes are shown in the attached table.

  


Figures as at 1 April 1998 
  

% of all
practices 
  



Scotland 
  

88.4 
  



Argyll & Clyde 
  

77.7 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

95.2 
  



Borders 
  

100.0 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

100.0 
  



Fife 
  

87.1 
  



Forth Valley 
  

92.9 
  



Grampian 
  

94.4 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

90.4 
  



Highland 
  

72.0 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

92.7 
  



Lothian 
  

91.2 
  



Orkney 
  

40.0 
  



Shetland 
  

80.0 
  



Tayside 
  

93.2 
  



Western Isles 
  

71.4

Health

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time for barium enemas is in the various health boards throughout Scotland and whether there is a recommended waiting time for such procedures.

Susan Deacon: Information on the average waiting time for barium enemas is not available centrally. Local waiting time guarantees for a first outpatient appointment following a General Practitioner referral for the six main specialities of General Surgery, Orthopaedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Gynaecology and Urology are set by individual Health Boards taking account of local needs.

  The Programme for Government-Making it Work Together includes a commitment to set targets to speed treatment and shorten waiting times by the end of 1999. Performance against these targets will be closely monitored and will be published.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it made any contribution towards the £1.5 million raised by the Glasgow Evening Times appeal to purchase a magnetic resonance imager scanner for Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive did not contribute towards the Glasgow Evening Times MRI scanner appeal.

Health

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to meet with UNISON to discuss Fife Health Board’s acute services review.

Susan Deacon: The review of acute services is for Fife Health Board and I understand UNISON is formally consulted about service changes in Fife. The review process will provide an opportunity for further consultation with UNISON.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to ensure that members of the medical profession who participate in the process to consider claims by ex-miners for compensation and welfare payments in relation to emphysema and vibration white finger cases are suitably qualified and experienced in assessing the symptoms of these illnesses.

Susan Deacon: The Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme, including the special training of doctors, is a matter for the Department of Social Security and as such is reserved to the Westminster Parliament.

Health

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive why the Huntershill Marie Curie Cancer Care Centre’s request for space to deliver services in the proposed Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Unit at Stobhill Hospital has been refused by the Glasgow North University Trust Board.

Susan Deacon: It is for North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust to decide which services should be provided at the proposed Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Centre (ACAD) at Stobhill Hospital.

  I understand, however, that the request from Marie Curie to have access to the proposed ACAD came after the original design was developed. The original design had some extra space available and it was suggested that space might be made available to Marie Curie. The original design was rejected by Greater Glasgow Health Board and redesign work is continuing. At no time was accommodation for Marie Curie part of the formal consideration of space required for the ACAD.

  The Marie Curie services will continue to be provided from their existing location.

Housing

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is evidence of significant support among Glasgow’s council tenants for its proposals for community ownership of council housing in Glasgow.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Glasgow City Council has taken the decision to explore transfer of its housing into community ownership against a number of objectives for improving housing in Glasgow, and addressing concerns expressed by tenants. Tenants will be fully consulted in the development of any proposal and, ultimately, transfer to community ownership will take place only if tenants themselves vote for it.

Housing

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is evidence of significant support among Glasgow’s council tenants for its proposals for community ownership of council housing in Glasgow.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Glasgow City Council has decided to explore transfer of its housing into community ownership. Tenants will be fully consulted in the development of any proposal and transfer will take place only if tenants vote for it.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the number of waivers applied for by defence agents from the Public Defence Solicitors’ Office and the number granted by it.

Mr Jim Wallace: By 19 November 1999, the Public Defence Solicitors’ Office had received 741 requests for waivers, of which 499 were granted.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the results of the investigation into the use of Solicitor Advocates in the High Court.

Mr Jim Wallace: It is proposed that the results will be published in the New Year.

Kvaerner

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had or plans to have with Kvaerner over the future of its yard at Methil in Fife.

Nicol Stephen: While the immediate future of the Methil yard is secure, it, like other UK fabrication yards, faces an uncertain outlook. Henry McLeish proposes to meet the new head of Kvaerner Oil & Gas in the near future to discuss the future of the Methil yard and the wider implications for Scotland of Kvaerner’s restructuring of its oil and gas business.

Local Government

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many members of staff in each local authority direct labour organisation have been transferred under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Mr Frank McAveety: This information is not held centrally.

Local Government

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of the out of court settlement between North Lanarkshire Council and the former Director of the Direct Labour Organisation, whether any conditions were attached to this settlement and, if so, what they were.

Mr Frank McAveety: This is a matter for North Lanarkshire council.

Local Government

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total employment levels in each local authority direct labour organisation were at 31 October for each of the last three years.

Mr Frank McAveety: This information is not held centrally.

Local Government

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is in relation to the awarding of contracts not covered by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations by local authority direct labour organisations.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations apply on a contract by contract basis. Decisions about contracts where TUPE does not apply are a matter for local authorities.

Local Government

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many contracts not covered by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations have been issued by local authority direct labour organisations in the last 12 months, what was the total value of these contracts and what percentage they constitute of the total number of contracts.

Mr Frank McAveety: This information is not held centrally.

New Deal

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people have set up in business or become self-employed in Scotland under the auspices of the New Deal since July 1998.

Henry McLeish: Employment Policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of the New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive. Many partner organisations at local level also provide New Deal Services under contract or provide funds and other resources, including training funds to enhance the quality of New Deal in their areas. The public and voluntary organisations which contribute to the New Deal in this way fall within the remit of the Scottish Executive.

  To end of October 1999, 11 clients have started independent self-employment as a result of the self-employment route of New Deal and 68 clients have started Stage Three of the self-employment route - test trading phase.

Sport

Allan Wilson (Cunninghame North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to promote sport for people with disabilities in Scotland.

Rhona Brankin: Sportscotland’s partnership with Scottish Disability Sport in delivering the Royal Mail-Ready Willing and Able for Sport programme throughout Scotland is continuing to develop and strengthen. The programme develops local partnerships between local authorities and governing bodies of sport to promote sport for people with disabilities.

Tourism

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what total funding it provides for Scotland the Brand, what performance targets have been set, whether these targets have been achieved and what outcomes have been achieved to date.

Henry McLeish: Scotland the Brand is wholly funded by Scottish Enterprise, which sets and monitors targets.

Work

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps within its powers it is taking to make it easier to work from home for those people who wish to do so.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: Studies into home working, including pilot exercises, have been undertaken by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, with the aim of demonstrating these benefits. The Scottish Executive supports staff in working from home where the nature of the work or personal circumstances make this possible.

Young People

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage councils and voluntary organisations to enable young people to take a greater part in the management of youth centres and projects.

Peter Peacock: Young people’s active participation in decisions affecting their lives and interests is central to our Action Programme for Youth on which we are working with local authorities and the voluntary sector. I have seen several examples of this in practice and commend it to all councils and voluntary organisations.